Diversified Energy Company (DEC) FY Conference Transcript

Summary of Diversified Energy Company (DEC) FY Conference Call Company Overview - Company Name: Diversified Energy Company (DEC) - Ticker: DEC - Market Capitalization: Approximately $1.3 billion [4] - Enterprise Value: Approximately $3.6 billion [4] - Production: Approximately 1.2 Bcfe per day of natural gas, equivalent to just under 200 MBOEs daily [5] Core Business Model - Focus on optimizing free cash flow through strategic acquisitions [6] - Operates mature producing assets rather than developing new ones [7] - Significant growth in the Central region (Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana) with 65% of production from this area [8] - Recent acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources for $1.3 billion, enhancing scale in Oklahoma and entry into the Permian Basin [9] Financial Performance - Achieved over 310% increase in adjusted EBITDA over the past five years [17] - Second quarter production was approximately 1,150 MMcfe per day [17] - Free cash flow generation and steady growth in revenue and adjusted EBITDA [17] - Repurchased approximately $43 million of shares, about 4% of shares outstanding [18] Capital Allocation Strategy - Balanced capital allocation strategy focusing on debt reduction, shareholder returns, and accretive acquisitions [18] - Returned over $2 billion to shareholders through dividends, repurchases, and debt repayments over the past seven years [20] - Guidance for free cash flow generation this year is $420 million, with dividends fixed at $1.01 per share [46] Risk Management - High degree of hedging in commodity prices, approximately 80-85% hedged in the near term [12] - Focus on reducing environmental risks, achieving a 99.5% leak-free status [15][16] - Corporate decline rate is just under 10%, with strategies in place to mitigate this through acquisitions and partnerships [36] Strategic Partnerships - Partnership with The Carlyle Group, which has ring-fenced approximately $2 billion for acquisitions [22] - Carlyle provides both debt and equity financing, allowing DEC to grow its asset base without consolidating debt on its balance sheet [57] Industry Trends and Opportunities - Participation in the growing demand for natural gas, particularly in data centers and LNG markets [24][25] - Incremental revenue generation from capturing coal mine methane, yielding higher prices due to environmental credits [41] - Focus on optimizing existing assets through smarter asset management practices [30] Conclusion - Diversified Energy Company positions itself as a leader in acquiring and optimizing mature producing assets, with a strong focus on cash flow generation and shareholder returns. The strategic partnerships and risk management practices further enhance its growth potential in the evolving energy landscape.